Ben Franklin, Phospholutions and Penn State: Making historic innovations in agriculture

By Beverly Molnar  Phospholutions, a sustainable fertilizer company committed to creating technology-based solutions for food production and environmental challenges by enhancing the efficiency of phosphorus use, is a Happy Valley startup success story — and a perfect example of how the Happy Valley entrepreneurial ecosystem can provide multiple, simultaneous resources that prop up such success.  […]

New brewers add to thriving craft beer scene

By Beverly Molnar Photo: Antifragile Brewing Co. When you think of “craft beer towns,” you might think of Asheville, North Carolina, which was first named Beer City USA in 2009, or Burlington, Vermont, which holds the record for the highest  number of breweries per capita. But brewers in Happy Valley aim to change that. Over […]

The first step to bringing your new business vision to life

By Beverly Molnar Photo: Provided. Happy Valley LaunchBox powered by PNC Bank is now accepting applications for its Idea TestLab, a four-week program beginning in October to help would-be entrepreneurs and business owners take the first step toward making their ideas a reality. “The first step is to determine whether you have identified a problem […]

Authentic before it was cool

By Beverly Molnar In 1963, Andy Zangrilli opened his first restaurant, a small pizza shop in State College. As he refined his brand, he expanded his signature fare of casual Italian and American dining throughout Pennsylvania, eventually introducing 30 additional locations to his restaurant portfolio. However, through nearly 60 years of changing times and tastes, […]

TechKnowServ: The intersection of technology, knowledge and service

By Beverly Molnar Matthew Whiteman, one of the lead NDT instructors at TKS, teaches a training course for ultrasonic phased array inspection certification.   State College-based TechKnowServ is a global leader in nondestructive testing that provides R&D for industries like railroad, petrochemical, defense and aerospace. It got its start when Tom Hay received his Ph.D. in engineering mechanics from […]

“A brilliant intersection of local and international”

By Beverly Molnar Photo provided by Pine Grove Hall Finding the right words to describe Pine Grove Hall can be a challenge. Even the proprietor, Liz Grove, pauses to gather her thoughts before forging ahead. “We’re a destination,” she said. “We’re a live music venue for the academic community, but not just students. We’re a […]

“Geeking out” on the lifestyle of entrepreneurship

By Beverly Molnar Photo Provided. Penn State recently appointed Elizabeth Hay the Jack White Family Director of Happy Valley LaunchBox powered by PNC Bank. In this role, Hay will help student, community and faculty/staff startup founders to de-risk and grow their businesses. She’ll run accelerator programs, provide advice on turning ideas into businesses and teach […]